Welcome back, Humpty Dumpty! Your sitting up baby will enjoy batting at this rolling toy that never goes too far. In fact, it rolls away and then comes right back, so even before baby can crawl, this is a fun toy for active play and making things happen.

Looking for a toy that will go the distance? A classic set of nesting cups may look old fashioned, but to your baby they are new and loaded with fascination! With their wide easy to grasp rims, these cups are fun for floor play as well as the tub. They have safety holes in the bottom, so they cannot form a vacuum on baby's face. These are what must-have basic gear for sitting up babies. No bells, whistles or lightsójust solid hands-on play with seven bright cups that stack into a 12-inch tower or nest neatly inside of each other.

note: the link online calls this a toddler toy, but the box is marked as it should be : 6 months and up.

Easy for little hands to grasp, this colorful toy can be used for tracking games with newborns and will be perfect as baby begins to reach out and take hold of things. It is easy to clean, light-weight and fun for passing back and forth and teething when baby gets to that stage, as well. It contains no water, but if you refrigerate it, it may be soothing for teething babies. The company says that the "Winkel is made of PU tubing (polyurethane) and as such does not contain BPA or PVC and meets the SPSIA and European requirements for phthalates." Newborn and up

SNAP: An uncomplicated but lightweight toy with endless ways to play. No lights or whistles, but it will be used it for tracking, grasping, rolling, tossing, tasting and teething.

Welcome back Flatopig! A few years ago we gave the original version of Flatopig a Platinum Award. That one was retired for a while but the review vanished from our site. Like the original Flatopig this big 25" huggable is understuffed and like all the other Flatso farm critters, it is totally pleasing for toddlers who like big dolls to lug about, but cannot handle anything too heavy. The company tells us the new version is softer and has denser plush, and black stitched eyes instead of blue. In the new line there is also a much smaller 15" version ($17); a much smaller $10 rattle or an all new Flatopig cozie($10) But, keep in mind, the giant 25" version is the 'Wo-wee!' choice.

High contrast black and white graphics are now combined with bold colors so the mobile can be changed as baby grows. Designed with out music or motor, this versatile mobile is nevertheless more visually stimulating than most. The images are displayed so that the newborn looking up sees the whole graphic rather than just a sideways glance. It's design is based on research that indicates that newborns see black and white high contrast most easily during the first weeks of life. Babies are also visually attracted to images of a face, simple bulls-eye graphics and other bold patterns. Another plus is the ability to change the view. Like all of us, infants stop noticing things that are constantly in sight. Since you can change the position of the graphics, this is a more interesting mobile. Without a motor to make it turn, this is activated by baby's own motions as she moves her arms and legs. This mobile has no music, but you can add that with a stand alone musical toy. Based on the original all black and white Stimobile by Wimmer Ferguson, this is a classic.

The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Welcome back, Ted and Tess! A classic toy that has been missing in action for a few seasons. These spinning bears go round and round when baby pushes the knob on top. The brightly colored spinning top is made of sturdy plastic and has a flat bottom that sits flat on the floor. A fun toy for learning about cause and effect and for making things happen. Babaies will need adults to sctivate the bears, but in time they will be able to make it happen. Such a feeling of power! 6 months & up.

The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

SNAP: It's not always easy finding toys that respond to a swipe of the whole hand. This classic spinning toy is sturdy and easy to activate.

There is not a better quality safety mirror for babies than this one. Recently updated with all new graphics, this is pretty much distortion-free and baby will enjoy gazing at his own moving images long before he recognizes who he is seeing in the reflection. However, even before baby can use the mirror side, the high contrast black and white graphics on the reverse side will be interesting for baby to gaze at. Hang this in the crib or beside the changing table. Keep in mind, that the black and white graphics are visually stimulating, so for quiet time, you may want to take this out of visual range. The graphics include among others a pinwheel with target, a cat's face, and a baby's face. Research shows that newborns do not see colors in the first weeks and these black and white images, especially the faces, are the ones they latch onto visually. Newborns & up. The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

An update of an old favorite, this high chair toy has a big suction cup to fasten on the high chair or it can be detached from its stand and used for two handed play. The bold contrast spinners are sure to attract visual attention and delight babies who love the power of toys that they activate with ease. There are two see-through balls with spinners inside and bright colored clackers that invite exploration by little fingers. 6 months & up.

The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

SNAP INFO: Finding toys that respond with a swipe of the hand is not always easy. This clever spinning high chair toy can be used as a hand held tether and rattle. Suction held toys often do not hold well. This one is better than most, thus freeing you from holding the toy and empowering a child to make it work. There is plenty to see, hear, and feel as balls and clackers with bold graphics and textures turn. Best of all, it detaches to become a two-handed toy to explore.

Happy to see this Platinum Award winner back in the market! Little hands can easily activate the spinners on this rattling activity toy that's ideal for two-handed investigations. There's a ratchet dial on one side, a reflection bead chamber on the other side, and in the center there's a small spinning mirror, big egg-shaped beads, and a barrel for developing the use of individual fingers and as a colorful rolling toy for small social games. We have not received safety verification for this product and we have not tested it in an independent lab.

This play mat remains our favorite with two arches and dangly toys baby can gaze and eventually bat at. It gets high marks for keeping baby entertained. We prefer this design to the classic plastic activity gyms. Available in high-contrast black, white, and red version. Not for babies who are beginning to pull themselves up. Deluxe version is slightly larger.

SNAP INFO: This soft fabric playmat with dangly toys on soft arches comes in a variety of choices. For bold visual graphics select the black. white and red version. Easy to fold and carry along, the deluxe version is larger than most, a plus for bigger babies who may not be on the move, but ready to reach out and activate things. Like all playmats, this is to be used only with supervision and is not intended for babies who are pulling themselves up. Adaptation: Babies stop noticing toys that are always in their sight- just as you stop noticing a vase that's always in the same place. Change the soft danglies positions or substitute others to add visual interest.